THE REVENGE PACT (Kings of Football #1) by ILSA MADDEN-MILLS

“Life doesn’t give out a lot of moments like this. Just kiss me. Just kiss me or walk away.”

We will follow the gorgeous River Tate’s lead and tell you three things about this book. 1) It’s a beautiful slow burn antagonist to friends to lovers’ romance. 2) You’ll fall head over heels for the insanely wonderful, River Tate, and 3) You’ll love unravelling the reasons behind the abysmal season of the Braxton College Football team whilst becoming swept up in the sweetness, chemistry and emotion of The Revenge Pact.

“You should be kissed and often, and by someone who knows how.”

This is the first book in a 3 books Series called The Kings of Football by Isla Madden-Mills, Meghan Quinn, and Adrianna Locke. The stories focus on the kings of football at Braxton College as they reflect on the hell that is their current football season. A season in which nothing went their way. What lay beneath the annihilation and who are the women who will steal their hearts? Well, you’ll certainly enjoy finding out!

“Sometimes it only takes one sunrise to know someone.”

Who are these All American, good looking football gods who have the world in the palm of their hands, we hear you ask? Well, let’s see. There’s Crew Smith, he’s the protective one. Hollis Hudson the mysterious one, and River Tate, the popular frat boy and superstar wide receiver.

The Revenge Pact is River Tate’s story, and it is one of family, friends, protectiveness, and suppressed feelings, and we were here for it all! And although we didn’t learn anything about Crew or Hollis in The Revenge Pact, we are equally excited for their stories to be told!

River Tate seems to have it all! Women want him and men want to be him. He’s the president of the frat club, well respected and equally loved a bit of a mother hen to anyone who needs a shoulder to cry on, and… he’s got a thing for one of his frat brothers’ girlfriends. He is well and truly smitten but thinks the smart Anastasia is out of his league. Not to mention, forbidden!

River has a lot of issues to contend with – family-wise and personally, but he doesn’t let them keep him down. ADHD and dyslexia plague his life, but he is persistent and in the hopes of getting to know more about the beautiful Anastasia Bailey, he enlists in a class that will test his capabilities, but River is a fighter and he’ll push through, with a bit of help from Anastasia his friend, Donovan’s girlfriend.

“Everything is relative. Sometimes a person can be your home.”

As we get to know more about Ana and Tate, their pasts, their dreams, their hopes, we come to learn that maybe serendipity had a hand in their meeting, and it is a beautiful aspect of their story. And do not get us started on the references to The Outsiders! Swoon, a guy who can quote The Outsiders. Be still our hearts…stay gold Pony Boy!

We really enjoyed this first glimpse into the Kings of Football series. Isa Madden-Mills delivered a sweet, sexy and at times poignant story of love, family, and friendship. We can’t wait to find out more about Crew in The Romantic Pact, and Hollis in The Relationship Pact!